eMOLT Update 2023-12-22

First off, a reminder that TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR THE REGIONAL COOPERATIVE RESEARCH SUMMIT that will take place in Cape May next February.

A few weeks ago, the semi-annual newsletter was printed and mailed to 35 lobstermen, mostly those who participate in the non-realtime project to remind them that a) the project is still alive and b) to mail in their probes when they are done fishing for the year.

A few dozen have mailed in their probes so far. It appears that, as in the case of the examples below, there was a warm Spring in 2023 was followed by a normal or slightly cool Summer and a warm Fall. In all cases, the dramatic effect of Hurricane Ian in late September is evident.

Between Cutler, ME and Grand Manan

Drouin example

Casco Bay

Brian Tarbox example

Outer Cape Cod

Billy Souza example

Cape Cod Bay

Frank Kristy example

The StudentDrifter Program is slowly coming back from its Covid-era slump. You can see the last month of tracks here. Most interesting, as seen in the animation below, is the result of three clusters deployed in Cape Cod Bay on Nov 25th, Dec 2nd, and Dec 15th. They were deployed by mariners in Sandwich: USCG, Capt. Dave on the F/V Grace Sarah, and Capt. Rob on the F/V Resolve, respectively. The last two clusters included a pair of sensor laden miniboats which sail quickly across the bay.

animation > For the full resolution animation, click here

Forecasts

NECOFS Bottom Temperature Forecast

NECOFS forecast

Doppio Bottom Temperature Forecast

Doppio forecast

Cooperative Research Opportunities

  • Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is seeking captains interested in Exploring the Feasibility and Market Potential of a Common Spider Crab Fishery in Southern New England. To get involved with the project check out their website.

  • The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center are seeking captains interested in contracting out their vessels for a pilot hook-and-line (DNG auto-jig) survey along the east coast. Further information can be found here under the title Pilot Hook and Line Survey Request for Proposals.

New research

  • In an example of the importance of bottom temperature information, scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center recently published their findings of what happened with the case of the disappearing snow crabs. Long story short, extended marine heatwaves made the waters warm enough that the crabs’ caloric requirements increased beyond the food that was available and billions of them likely starved. To read the full paper, request access here.

  • Using a set of floating instruments, an interesting study was published by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute last month entitled “Warming and lateral shift of the Gulf Stream from in situ observations since 2001” and described here. The Portland Herald article focuses on the effects in the Gulf of Maine.

Announcements

  • A memoir by David Goethel, a longtime eMOLT participant, was published recently describing his decades in the New England commercial fisheries. A great story entitled “Endangered Species”, it can be found, for example, here.

All the best, George and JiM